Top 10: Must-See Locales In Greece

Number 7

Crete

Almost a country in itself, there's a lot to see and do on Greece's biggest island. If parties and crowds are your thing, stick to the northeast of the island. If you prefer remote, rugged mountain areas, head to the west. Either way, you'll have a great time.

To forget you're in the 21st century, go to Chania, a city that gives Venice a run for its money. With a great waterfront sporting swank cafes, there's no going wrong here.

If you have strong legs, venture down the Samarian Gorge — all nine miles of it. For other day treks, beaches are in no shortage: Elounda Beach in Agios Nikolaos is possibly the best. The nearby town center of Agis is also amazing, built around a lake reputed to be a graveyard of WWII German tanks.

Main attraction: The Minoan Palace of Knossos, still pristine after 3,000 years, shows just how sophisticated Minoan society was.

Number 6

Rhodes

This Dodecanese island looks like a fortified city straight out of The Lord of the Rings . It has the wildest nightlife in Greece, crawling with playful Scandinavian women. And if you like history, there's enough here to fill a library. The Knights of Saint John, for instance, chilled in Rhodes after they were kicked out of the Holy Land in 1309.

Navigating the town of Lindos is an adventure in itself, much like finding your way through a maze. As a haven for musicians, Lindos has great live performance venues.

But it's the east coast of Rhodes that draws the hot-blooded males. Falikari is dotted with nude beaches, catering to "knock you dead" Northern European women. Be advised: after a few days in Rhodes, everything else in life will seem disappointing.

Main attraction: The Acropolis in Lindos rivals that of Athens, and has an even better view of the sea.

Number 5

Meteora

They were featured in a James Bond movie ( For Your Eyes Only ), so the monasteries in Meteora must be cool. Perched precariously on clifftops, one immediately wonders how on earth they got there. Apparently, Byzantine monks escaping bloodshed at the hands of Turks used ladders and windlasses to get up there. Today, you can use interlinked bridges.

Main attraction: Foregoing the ease of the bridges and reaching the monasteries by escalating the cliffs.